Choosing where your group lives online is a practical decision — fees, messaging, data ownership, and whether anyone will answer when you need help. This table is the rational proof; if you want the story behind why we built GatherUK, read that separately.
GatherUK is a UK non-profit that legally cannot be sold for private profit. The table below compares the practical things that matter when you are choosing a home for your group.
| Feature | GatherUK.org | Meetup | Heylo | Eventbrite | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Profit Status | Yes (UK) | No | No | No | No |
| Legal Structure | UK Non-Profit (Converting to Charity) | Private Corporation | Venture Capital Backed | Publicly Traded (NYSE) | Publicly Traded (NASDAQ) |
| Protected From Private Sale | Yes (Legally Protected) | No (Can be sold) | No (Can be sold) | No (Can be sold) | No (Can be sold) |
| Group Admin monthly fee | £5 / month | £25 – £30+ | £15 – £150+ | £0 – £70+ | Free |
| Member Messaging | Unlimited | Limited (Standard) | Included | Limited | Only ~10% see posts organically; reach limited unless paid |
| Waitlist Management | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Attendee Service Fees | £0 | Variable | 5% + fee | 6.95% + 59p | £0 |
| Recurring Events | Yes | Yes | Yes | Clunky | Yes |
| UK-Based Support | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Ad-Free Experience | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| UK Privacy Standards (ICO Registered) | Yes (Ref: ZC101550) | Global model | US-based | US-based | US-based (Meta) |
| Ownership of Data | You | Meetup | Heylo | Eventbrite | Meta |
Why UK Volunteers Are Making the Switch
GatherUK vs. Meetup
Meetup invented the category, but it is now a publicly traded US company with fees that keep climbing — often £25–30+ a month before you host a single event. GatherUK gives UK groups the same essentials (RSVPs, messaging, waitlists) for £5 a month after three months free, with no Friendship Tax on your members.
GatherUK vs. Heylo
Heylo looks polished, but it is US-based and built to grow fast. As your group gets bigger, useful basics — like reaching your own member list — can end up behind a costly Pro tier. A volunteer should not have to pay extra just to talk to people they already welcomed.
GatherUK vs. Eventbrite
Eventbrite is built for one-off concerts, not community life. With fees up to 6.95% + £0.59 per ticket, your members end up paying a "ticketing tax" on every event. GatherUK charges £0 for free events and takes 0% commission on paid ones. We keep your costs at zero so your members' money stays within the group.
GatherUK vs. Facebook
Facebook is where posts disappear into the feed. Most members never see your next gathering unless you pay to boost it. On GatherUK, when you announce an event, members who want updates get them — no mysterious filter in the way.